Nintendo's Game Boy Advance: Hotter than Hollywood

Nintendo's press release carries that impressive heading, and here's how they back up those claims:

The Game Boy Advance line in 2003 is tracking to exceed the year's total box office revenues for any Hollywood studio.

That's right: Hardware and games for the Game Boy Advance are projected to exceed $1.5 billion in revenue in the United States, an estimate beyond the domestic estimates for any Hollywood movie maker.

"Game Boy Advance is the envy of the entertainment world," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Not only does our 'studio' boast a library of more than 550 titles, but these hits get played over and over again."

Nintendo sold more than 400,000 Game Boy Advance systems in October alone, 100,000 more than any other game system! And its momentum continues:

When the Game Boy Advance is ranked alongside the three home consoles, it grabs a commanding share of the market with 38 percent.

"The Game Boy will sell out this Christmas," says Michael Pachter, vice president of research at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles.